Many contractors need a deposit for materials or scheduling, but a deposit can become risky when the terms are vague, rushed, or unusually large.
Possible red flags
- The deposit is very large compared with the job size.
- There is no written scope of work.
- No company address, registration, insurance, or references are provided.
- The contractor pressures you to pay today.
- Payment is requested by an unprotected method.
- There is no schedule, cancellation policy, or receipt.
Questions to ask first
- What exactly is the deposit paying for?
- Is it refundable if work does not start?
- Can I have the full scope, timeline, and warranty in writing?
- Can you provide references or recent work examples?
Paste the quote or message into PeoplePick DealCheck before paying.